Baby formula manufacturers warned about safety standards

Potentially contaminated baby formula has been recalled, leaving parents frightened and babies displeased. The US food and drug regulator FDA has shone the spotlight on food manufacturing safety standards. 

Violations in quality control at Reckitt’s baby formula manufacturing plants

Reckitt’s well-loved brands, such as Durex, Dettol, Nurofen, Strepsils, Gaviscon and Vanish are present in homes across the world. 

ByHeart launched its Whole Nutrition Infant Formula in March 2022, becoming the first new US infant formula manufacturer in 15 years.

Perrigo was founded in 1887 and is headquartered in Ireland, where it makes self-care products that are both affordable and of a top quality. 

All three companies have been warned by the US food and drug regulator about the importance of food manufacturing safety standards.

145,000 ProSobee infant formula cans were recalled by Reckitt, due to a risk of cross-contamination with the bacteria Cronobacter sakazakii. Contact can cause sepsis and meningitis. 

The FDA wrote to Reckitt to inform them that it discovered ‘significant’ violations in quality control at two of Reckitt’s manufacturing plants.

“Upon receiving notification of this result, you failed to conduct an independent root cause analysis or investigation and you did not evaluate whether other products may have been impacted by this contamination event.”

“[We are] committed to identifying and acting on issues early to prevent any firms from reaching the level of concern,” said Donald Prater, acting director of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.

This follows on from Saudi Arabia’s Health Ministry fining an unnamed pharmaceutical company US$67,000 for breaking its Breast Milk Substitutes (BMS) code. At the end of World Breastfeeding Week (August 1st - 7th), Minister Fahd al-Jalajel found that the company in question was breaking the law, by sending representatives into hospitals and handing out brochures for infant milk formula.

From the USA to Saudi Arabia, the millions of formula-fed babies and their families are being protected. 

*************************************************

For more insights into Manufacturing - check out the latest edition of Manufacturing Magazine and be sure to follow us on LinkedIn & Twitter.

Other magazines that may be of interest - Healthcare Digital. 

*********************************************

BizClik is a global provider of B2B digital media platforms that cover 'Executive Communities' for CEO's, CFO's, CMO's, Sustainability Leaders, Procurement & Supply Chain Leaders, Technology & AI Leaders, Cyber Leaders, FinTech & InsurTech Leaders as well as covering industries such as Manufacturing, Mining, Energy, EV, Construction, Healthcare + Food & Drink.

BizClik, based in London, Dubai & New York offers services such as Content Creation, Advertising & Sponsorship Solutions, Webinars & Events.